Advertisement

Album reviews Music

WILEY

Rating: NN


I’m confused. When did playtime begin? Was the UK grime rapper who once had beef with Dizzee Rascal just playing on his last album, Treddin’ On Thin Ice? Either way, he’s right: there sure isn’t any playing going on here. Just cold, robotic electro beats with Wiley’s aggressive cockney flows on the usual subjects – th ‘hood, how fly he is, real vs. fake gangstas, sexual prowess…. Same shit, different continent.

If this album is a bid for international popularity, it’s going to take more than an accent for Wiley to stand apart. But he rarely steps outside the boundaries of the thug-posture comfort zone, save for Baby Girl, an ode to his daughter, and the tender hatchet-burying Letter To Dizzee. Still, any sparks are quickly extinguished by nauseating production.

Advertisement

Exclusive content and events straight to your inbox

Subscribe to our Newsletter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By signing up, I agree to receive emails from Now Toronto and to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.